Prevention of osteoporosis is a much better plan than treatment, as often treatment is too late. Many factors contribute to osteoporosis. Firstly we need to understand what naturally occurs in bone as we age. As we go through life bone is constantly being remodelled.It is absorbed and laid down constantly through our lives. As we get older the rate at which bone is absorbed occurs faster than it is laid down.Over years this can lead to weak bones, which is osteoporosis.So, two factors are important in determining whether or not we get osteoporosis.That is how strong our bones are beforebones are before they start to get weaker and then the rate at which they deteriorate.In general in later life bone density tends to reduce by 1% per annum.Women are at higher risk than men of getting osteoporosis because as they reach menopause the drop in Oestrogen results in several years of rapid bone density loss. Video Rating: 0 / 5
VA Maryland Health Care System Asks Do You Know If Your Bones Are Healthy?
Baltimore, Md. (PRWEB) October 14, 2011
Because women are four times more likely than men to get osteoporosis, it’s often considered “a woman’s disease,” but men can get osteoporosis. Two million American men have osteoporosis with another 12 million at risk. Despite the large numbers of affected men, osteoporosis remains under-diagnosed and under-reported. Known as “the silent disease,” osteoporosis is generally painless, but it causes bones to become fragile and more likely to break. “Crush fractures of the vertebrae in the back can lead to chronic pain. If not prevented or treated, osteoporosis generally progresses,” says Elizabeth Streeten, MD, director of the Metabolic Bone Clinic at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland Health Care System and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
When bone density is lower than normal it’s considered “low bone mass (osteopenia),” diagnosed by DXA (dual xray absorptiometry), a painless 15-minute test to assess bone strength. Not every person diagnosed with low bone mass (osteopenia) will progress to osteoporosis, but risk factors may increase the development of osteoporosis. “Fractures are a major concern for older adults with low bone mass,” said Streeten. “For older adults who test with low bone mass (osteopenia), who have not had a fracture, providers use an online resource called Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (or FRAX) to help decide who needs a prescription medication to help prevent fractures.”
What can you do on your own to prevent osteoporosis and fracture?
Keep body weight in the normal range (low body weight and obesity both increase the risk of fracture).
Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol (more than two drinks per day).
Do regular weight bearing exercises.
Add calcium (by taking in dairy products or taking a supplement) and take a vitamin D supplement (1,000 units daily is enough for most adults).
Avoid falls by removing loose carpets in your home and practicing good safety protocols.
Speak with a health care provider about osteoporosis. This is important, particularly if taking medicines or managing a chronic disease such as celiac disease, which increases the risk for developing osteoporosis.
Ask your provider if you need a Bone Mineral Density Test (DXA), the most effective way to diagnose osteoporosis in people who have not had a fracture. This is a simple 15-minute painless test that calculates the strength of the spine and hip (or forearm if the spine or hip cannot be imaged).
Risk Factors
Research indicates that genes (family history) are an important risk factor for osteoporosis.
Other risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture include advanced age, low body weight, low testosterone in men and menopause in women, vitamin D deficiency, smoking, three or more servings of alcohol per day, some medications such as Prednisone and some medical problems.
Aging is the most important risk factor for osteoporosis because we all lose bone strength with age.
How is DXA interpreted?
Bone Mineral Density Test results are reported as a “T score” (in men over 50 and postmenopausal women), which compares bone density to that of healthy young adults. The World Health Organization has defined T-scores as this:
Normal bone density: -1.0 to zero and any positive number
Low bone density or osteopenia: between -1.0 and -2.5
Osteoporosis: -2.5 or higher negative number
When DXA is repeated, it is best to use the same testing machine at the same facility. This increases the accuracy of the comparison between the two tests.
What is the FRAX tool?
Developed by the World Health Organization, the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (or FRAX) calculates the risk of fracture in the next 10 years by including most known risk factors for fracture, in addition to the bone density of the hip (femoral neck) from DXA. Using the FRAX tool helps providers to identify those who have a T-score in the low bone mass range but are at high risk for fracture and need treatment, and to avoid treating those who are at low risk of fracture.
Who should have a DXA?
All women over 65 and men over 70. Also, any adult with:
A fracture resulting from a mild fall (eg. from standing height)
Chronic treatment with prednisone
Men with low testosterone
Women being treated for breast cancer with medication to lower estrogen level
Men with prostate cancer being treated with medication to lower testosterone levels
Spine fracture or thin bones noticed on X-ray
How is osteoporosis treated? In addition to calcium, vitamin D and exercise, many medications available now are effective in treating osteoporosis, which reduce the risk of fracture by 50 percent. Your health care provider will determine whether you need medication and if so, which medication is best for you.
Importance of Vitamin D:
Vitamin D decreases bone loss and lowers the risk of fracture, especially in older men and women. It may also decrease the risk of other chronic illnesses such as diabetes.
Vitamin D is made in the skin after exposure to sunlight, but most people do not make enough vitamin D to meet their needs and should take a supplement.
Although there is some controversy about how much vitamin D is ideal, most adults need 1,000 units of vitamin D daily to maintain a normal vitamin D blood level.
How long is osteoporosis treated with medication?
Treatment duration needs to be individualized. For some patients who are at moderate risk for fracture and have responded well to treatment, treatment can be stopped after 5 years. For patients who remain at high risk for fracture after 5 years of treatment, treatment should be continued.
If you are a Veteran enrolled in the VA Maryland Health Care System and want to speak to your VA provider about bone health, call the Appointment Call Line at 1-800-463-6295, ext 7333.
The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) provides a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, rehabilitative, mental health and outpatient care to veterans at two medical centers, one community living & rehabilitation center and five outpatient clinics located throughout the state. More than 52,000 veterans from various generations receive care from the VAHMCS annually. Nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art technology and quality patient care, the VAMHCS is proud of its reputation as a leader in veterans’ health care, research and education. It costs nothing for Veterans to enroll for health care with the VA Maryland Health Care System and it could be one of the more important things a Veteran can do. For information about VA health care eligibility and enrollment or how to apply for a VA medical care hardship to avoid future copayments for VA health care, interested Veterans are urged to call the Enrollment Center for the VA Maryland Health Care System, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-463-6295, ext. 7324 or visit http://www.maryland.va.gov.
What is osteoporosis? There are many definitions that exist for osteoporosis but the best way to describe osteoporosis is a condition that arises due to the imbalance between the deposition and absorption of calcium and other minerals and proteins resulting in weak and brittle bones. The bones of a healthy individual is always undergoing a renewal process where the proteins and minerals, especially calcium, is deposited and re-absorbed. During childhood, when we are growing, the deposition of protein and minerals is more than the absorption and in around the age of 30 these two processes are balanced and at peak before the processes slow down and an imbalance starts developing. If this imbalance is too severe osteoporosis develops. This balance is especially disturbed in post-menopausal women but osteoporosis is not limited to post-menopausal women.
The risk factors that increase the probability of developing osteoporosis include age, gender, race, build, lifestyle, diet and onset of menopause. Osteoporosis is more common in women than in men due to the difference in hormonal systems. Men lose about 20% to 30% of their bone mass during the ageing process whereas women lose 30% to 50%. Osteoporosis is more common amongst Caucasian and Asian women than any other race group. Women who are small framed and women who are thin are more likely to be affected. People who indulge excessively in alcohol and people who smoke increase their chances of them developing osteoporosis. If a woman has menopause early then the chances of developing osteoporosis are increased, even when the onset of menopause is not natural for example due to surgery, a hereditary condition or due to lots of physical exercise such as in professional athletes. If the dietary intake of calcium is too low it will contribute to osteoporosis developing or worsening the condition if already present.
How do I know that I have osteoporosis? Often the first sign of osteoporosis is when you sustain a fracture. A bone will break under conditions that will not normally result in a fracture for example you may break a rib when you sneeze or cough. You may bend down to pick something up and experience severe back pain due to a fracture occurring. You may slip and fall and break a leg or hip. You may be walking and you suddenly fall down because of a fracture in the ankle or foot. For this reason osteoporosis is referred to as a silent disease in that the progress may be symptom-free up to this point where you sustain a fracture. The symptoms of osteoporosis usually become more visible after the age of 65. Another type of fracture that is common is a compression fracture of the spine resulting in the person becoming shorter over time, and also causes the development of a hunchback that is called as “dowager’s” or “widow’s” hump. Pain is usually only a symptom after a fracture has occurred. The only other way to ascertain the presence of osteoporosis before you become debilitated by the disease is by a bone density test or scan. A bone density scan is also recommended, almost routinely, in middle-aged men or women who sustains a fracture, so that a correct diagnosis can be made in the patient. This gives an indication how far the osteoporosis has developed by comparing your bone density with that of a healthy 30-year old with similar bone structure. Your bone mass is at a peak if you are 30 years of age and healthy. In the United States one out of four women dies after a hip fracture if they are over the age of 50 – this is a very alarming statistic shows how important it is to find and treat osteoporosis early, or even better yet, to ensure that you do not develop osteoporosis at all.
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Prevention is better than cure ! This old adage is very true when applied to osteoporosis. I like to recommend the use of calcium supplements from the age of at least 25 in all women. At the age of 25 you should take calcium supplements of 500mg of ELEMENTAL calcium daily. I stress the word ELEMENTAL as it is very important, for example, there are calcium supplements that contain small amounts of calcium but are sold as calcium supplements nonetheless. A product called calcium gluconate is an example to consider – the package may state 300mg calcium gluconate but they fail to mention that 300mg calcium gluconate is the equivalent of 27mg elemental calcium, meaning that you should chew 18 to 19 tablets daily to get 500mg calcium or about 38 daily to get 1000mg calcium! The best form of calcium supplement to take is usually an effervescent tablet that is combined with vitamin D as the vitamin D ensures that the calcium is absorbed by the body. From the age of 40 or 45 this calcium intake should be increased to 1000mg or 1 gram daily in women and men should start at the age of 40 with 500mg of elemental calcium. At the onset of menopause, that is when the first symptoms of menopause become apparent, you should also start on estrogen replacement therapy.
The purpose of the treatment of osteoporosis must firstly be to halt the progress of the condition and secondly the alleviation of symptoms such as pain and discomfort. The basis of treatment for menopausal women is estrogen replacement therapy(ERT) because the normal levels of estrogen maintains bone density. An alternative drug to ERT is raloxifene, a drug that is classed as a selective estrogen receptor modulator. Raloxifene is used for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and it reduces the incidence of non-traumatic vertebral fractures and the risk of breast cancer in women with osteoporosis. Alendronate and calcitonin can be used for osteoporosis as they stop bone loss, help to build bone and decrease the risk of fractures by up to 50%.
There is no cure for osteoporosis. The damage done by the disease is never fully reversed and all the drugs and mineral supplements can do is lessen the severity of the disease and the pain experienced. The best approach to osteoporosis is prevention and this must start at the age of 25 in healthy women and at the age of 40 in healthy men.
Hugo is the webmaster of Women’s Health Today where women’s health issues are discussed.
www.superfoodhealthyliving.com Bone density is strongly influenced by genetic factors, which in turn are infrequently modified by environmental factors and medications. If osteoporosis isn’t forestalled in the early stages or if not treated, it can progress painlessly till the bone has a tendency to break. These damaged bones, often referred to as breaks, occur sometimes in the hip, backbone, and wrist. The fracture due to osteoporosis can be either in the form of cracking ( as in a hip fracture ), or falling down ( as in a compression fracture of the vertebrae of the backbone ). Though the backbone, hips, and wrists are common areas of osteoporosis-related bone breaks, nearly any skeletal bone area is subject to osteoporosis-related fracture. The effects of osteoporosis may harm an individual for life. A hip fracture may mar someone’s ability to stroll and may result in permanent incapacity or even death notwithstanding hospitalization and major surgery. The Spinal or vertebral fractures also have significant results, including loss of height, grim back trouble, and monstrosity. Osteoporosis may cause someone to stoop forward and seem to have a hump on their backbone. While osteoporosis happens in men and pre-menopausal ladies, the difficulty is predominant among postmenopausal girls. Any one can get osteoporosis, but women are much more likely to get it than men. Fort Wayne, Indiana Solomon Islands, Honiara Hervey Bay, Queensland Fort Worth, Texas Warrnambool, Victoria …
Women, who are over the age of 50 or past menopause, should consider having a bone density test – especially if you: • Are thin, or small-boned (especially Caucasian and Asian women) • Have a family history of osteoporosis • Have early menopause (before 45) • Have discontinued hormone replacement therapy.
Men, who are over the age of 65, should consider having a bone density test – especially if you: • Have a family history of osteoporosis • Have hypogonadism (low testosterone levels and/or reduced sexual function).
Chronic diseases that affect major organs such as the kindneys, lungs, and stomach that alter hormone levels.
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Other Risk Factors
Other risk factors for osteoporosis for both men and women include: • Smoking • Too much alcohol • Too little exercise • Too little calcium (now or during childhood) • A previous broken bone from a minor injury • Certain medications, such as steroids, cortisone, anticonvulsants, too much thyroid hormone.
A number of factors can increase the likelihood that you’ll develop osteoporosis — some you can change, others you cannot. It is important to take action now to find out your risk for developing osteoporosis.
Ask Your Doctor
If you have one or more risk factor, ask your doctor about getting a bone density test. It is completely painless and takes only 20 minutes. Need a doctor in the Seattle area? Call The Polyclinic’s new patient representatives at (206) 329-1777 or contact at us at our website. We have multiple locations throughout the greater Seattle area including downtown, Capitol Hill, Ballard, and Northgate.
Men are more stress prone compared to women due to changing lifestyles, financial woes and expectations, constant stress of providing for family and children etc. Hence, it is necessary that they have a healthy diet to deal with their hard life! Just like how women have to protect themselves against osteoporosis, men need to protect themselves against prostate cancer. Men have different (and higher) nutritional needs compared to women. For this very purpose, there are different types of foods that men require to maintain the well-being of their body and mind. Men who want to lose weight and stay fit permanently need to have a balanced and low calorie diet along with some peace of mind! Eat less, exercise more is the motto. But, what needs to be eaten? If you are reading this then obviously you would want this question answered. And it shall be answered in the next section, so don’t wait – read on!
Diet Tips For Men
Oatmeal
Full of fibre, vitamin B and zinc, oats are a reservoir of nutrition. Vitamins are primarily taken during stress and zinc for the prostate. To make oatmeal, stir a handful in hot milk and eat! If you don’t enjoy plain oatmeal, eat them in the form of muffins.
Eat Only When Hungry
Physical signs of hunger are the only time you should eat. A famous doctor says that – Hunger is your body’s way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn’t come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it. Also, eating the correct proportions is important. Feeling tired or bloated must never be experienced.
Low Carbohydrate Meals
Low carbs are the best diet plans for men because studies claim that 70% of men do better when they use this eating plan compared to any other. Low carbohydrate diets include South Beach Diet and Atkins Diet. These diets are such that men’s nutrition needs are optimally fulfilled and they rarely feel hungry. But, be sure not to consume any fat during this diet.
Greens
Kids or adults, men or women – all hate greens! But you’ve got to eat, what you’ve got to eat. Dark and leafy vegetables are a storehouse of nutrition and contain beta carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. It would be a good start to throw in a little green with each meal.
Avoid Nighttime Snacks
Most often, if you concentrate on what you eat and are occupied with work, you eat limited meals. But, during the night when you sit down and relax, mindless eating urges occur. Eating chips, cookies or candy in front of the television after dinner should be avoided under all circumstances. It is done more out of habit than actual hunger. What you could do to begin with is eat low calorie snacks such as popcorn, nuts, low fat yoghurt, herbal tea etc.
Water, Water All The Time!
Stats show that almost 3 out of 4 Americans are dehydrated! Water is not a nutrient but does wonders for digestion and detoxification of the body. Drinking water helps you in eating less and also washes out unnecessary chemicals/toxins from your body. And there are probably no known side effects of consuming water! It cools the body and helps in bodily functions too so that food does not get stagnated and the fats get washed away.
These diet plans and tips for men are a sure way to keep them healthy and happy for a long time!
Osteoporosis causes bones to become fragile and more likely to break. While women are more likely to have osteoporosis, men can also develop it. Regular resistance exercise working the upper-and lower-body muscles, along with a healthy diet that includes calcium and vitamin D, will help prevent the onset of osteoporosis. These exercises are designed for people who do not have a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Check with a doctor before starting any exercise routine. Perform the exercises two to three times a week with at least one day of rest between sessions. Both upper-body and lower-body exercises should be performed. Add weight-bearing cardiovascular exercise such as walking, jogging, stair-climbing, elliptical machine and dancing to your routine.
The best exercises for building bone are weight- or load-bearing exercises. These include weight-lifting, jogging, hiking, stair-climbing, step aerobics, dancing, racket sports, and other activities that require your muscles to work against gravity. Swimming and simply walking, although good for cardiovascular fitness, are not the best exercises for building bone. Thirty minutes of weight-bearing exercise daily benefits not only your bones, but improves heart health, muscle strength, coordination, and balance. Those 30 minutes don’t need to be done all at once; it’s just as good for you to do 10 minutes at a time.
For upper body exercises, start with 1-2 sets of 10 repetitions of ezch exercise. You can build up to 3 sets of 15 repetitions as you get stronger. Upper body exercises can be performed with hand weights or household items such as a water bottle, can of soup or any 1-to-3 pound object that easily fits in your hand. Start light (1-2 pounds) and progress slowly, adding half to 1 pound at a time. During the last 2-3 repetitions of each set, you should feel fatigue or a slight burn in the muscles you are working. Adjust your weights accordingly.
Overhead press
Stand or sit with spine in neutral alignment and feet hip-width apart. Start with elbows extended and weights level with top of your head.
Exhale as you press weights toward the ceiling, straightening your elbows.
Inhale as you lower weights to start position. Feel the workout in the top of your shoulders and upper arms.
Don’t stress or strain your neck.
Triceps kick-back
With weight in right hand keep spine in a neutral position as you lean on chair with left hand. Left foot is forward and knee is slightly bent; right leg is behind and straight.
Bring ritht upper arm next to your bidy and hold it still throughout the exercise.
Exhale as you straighten elbow, extending the weight back behind you.
Inhale as you slowly bend elbow. Feel work in the back of your upper arm and shoulder.
Bent-over rows
Weight in right hand, keep spine in a nurtral position as you lean on a chair with left hand. Left foot is forward and knee is slightly bent; right leg is behind and straight.
Start with right arm straight and the weight pointing at the floor on a slight forward angle.
Exhale to draw weight to your side, bending elbow. Feel work in your shoulder blade and back of arm.
Inhale to slowly lower weight to start position.
Biceps curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart, weights at your sides, palm facing forward.
Exhale as you bend elbows to draw weights toward your shoulders. Feel work in the front of your upper arm.
Keep upper arm and trunk still. Inhale to lower weights to start position.
Don’t stress or strain your neck.
Steven Johnson is committed to helping people maintain healthy and effective lifestyles. For more information on any other health supplements please visit his website Alternative Health Supplements.
Osteoporosis is a disease characterised by the loss of minerals like calcium, leading to low bone density and abnormally porous bone. Bones are more brittle and prone to fractures, commonly in the hips, spine, and wrists, though fractures can occur anywhere. In Australia, one-half of women and one-third of men over age 60 will have an osteoporotic fracture.
Bone Density:
Genetic factors determine bone density, but it can also be influenced by environmental factors and some medications. A person’s bone density develops during childhood and reaches its peak around age 25. This peak level is maintained for ten years. After 35, people begin to lose bone density at a rate of .3% to .5% per year; this is a normal consequence of the aging process.
Oestrogen is important to maintaining bone density. After menopause, women begin to lose bone much more quickly, especially in the first five to ten years. It’s common to lose between 1% and 5% of bone per annum after menopause. This accelerated bone loss is a primary factor of women’s development of osteoporosis.
Men tend to lose less bone as they age. When they do experience fractures, however, men have a higher likelihood of disability or death than do women.
Environmental Factors:
Osteoporosis is not wholly determined by genetics; environmental factors – those in our control – are also very important. People are more likely to develop the disease if they smoke, imbibe alcohol excessively, don’t exercise, eat a diet lacking in calcium, generally have poor nutrition and absorption of nutrients, and are deficient in vitamin D.
Impact of Other Diseases:
Other diseases and the medications used to treat them can also cause osteoporosis. Low oestrogen levels, anorexia, hyperthyroidism, and hyperparathyroidism can all contribute to the development of the disease. So, too, can chronic inflammation as well as immobility brought on from a stroke or other illness. Long-term use of medications such as heparin, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and oral corticosteroids can also contribute.
Symptoms and Diagnosis:
People with osteoporosis can go years without knowing that anything is wrong. The most prevalent symptom of osteoporosis is a bone fracture, which can go unnoticed. It’s not until patients experience a painful bone fracture that the condition comes to light. X-rays can detect the disease, but only after bones begin to look thin and light due to having lost up to 30% of bone density. X-ray machines are not a consistent diagnosis tool, however a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan is a much more accurate gauge of bone density measurement.
Preventative Measures and Treatments:
People can help prevent the development of osteoporosis by eating healthily, exercising, refraining from smoking, refraining from excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, and maintaining sufficient calcium and vitamin D levels. Osteoporosis treatment will work on the cells that break down or build bone. They can reduce bone loss and improve bone density. There are several types of medication available, which work in slightly different ways:
Unfortunately there is no way to guarantee one won’t develop osteoporosis, especially if it’s common in one’s family. However, awareness of the symptoms and risk factors can lead to early diagnosis, better management of the disease, and improved quality of life.
Chelsi Woolz writes about the how the bone decaying disease Osteoporosis can develop in anyone, especially people aged over 50 years old. This article offers tips on how to prevent Osteoporosis developing, what the symptoms of Osteoporosis are and which osteoporosis medication is available in Australia and where you can find help.
In the light of a recent major study and guidelines from the ACP, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer reminds us to look for osteoporosis risk factors in men, which can be deadlier for them than for women. Video Rating: 5 / 5
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